A Cannes Diary, Part I

A Cannes Diary, Part I

I pass my daylight hours in preparation for the premiere of my thirdfeature “Kicked In The Head” at that exalted and sublime foremost festivalof festivals, Cannes. Hurry uptown to the lab to check reprinted reels,hurry across town to the tailors, dash downtown to visit October to lookat posters. I feel a spring in my heel after a long winter of postproduction: “Ahh, to be going to Cannes in May with a new film…”

May 8, 1997

The fancy limo hired by October to take me to the airport arrives. TheLincoln is steaming hot inside and the driver asks if I want airconditioning. I say “Sure” and he punches the dashboard with his fist.“It’s busted,” he says as the fans roar ineffectually. “If you wannaopen your windows you can, though you gotta close it when we go in themidtown tunnel.” He pounds on the console all the way to the airport todemonstrate his dedication to my comfort.

Perhaps I don’t know what I’m getting into! Every day I am told “Cannesis a zoo!” Having taken my films to other big festivals – Sundance,Berlin, Toronto – I figure I have this festival racket under my belt butI am told, “No way, dude. It’s a zoo.”

The Lincoln limps into JFK, my indefatigable driver pounding the dash.For the first time in a long time I am flying business. In the lounge Ispy October partner John Schmidt and he tells me he is flying economy.John Schmidt cries out, “Cannes will be a zoo!” — distracting me asthey call business passengers to board. I board with economy.

As William Morris-heavy-hitter-Agent Johnny Planko lowers himself intohis first class seat, he tells me not to fret the hoopla of Cannes andthen he introduces me to Robert Altman who kicks my ass, saying hispicture wasn’t accepted to Cannes because my picture, “Kicked In The Head,”elbowed him out. I apologize and grovel at his white moccasincovered feet.

May 9, 1997

Arrive in Nice — a film crew blocks our exit on the jetway – they arehere to meet Altman. They ask him how he likes Cannes and he answerssomething like, “We’re in Nice.” Drive to Cannes in a Mercedes driven bya man named Pierre.

May 10, 1997

I walk to the Palais in the morning — the “Bunker” which is a massiveconcrete fort built to house the Festival. It is swarming with touristsand cinefiles. Yachts are beginning to fill the harbor. I walk to theQuinzaine Office and meet Pierre-Henri Beleau and Olivier Jahan, theorganizers of the Fortnight. Dropped by the CIBY sales office. They arehandling sales of “Kicked.” Had lunch with Huw Morgan CIBY and NancyBannister of October.

May 11, 1997

Technical check of “Kicked In The Head” at the theater in the Noga at 8a.m. Looks good. I had them make it louder and they said it was tooloud. Then I had them make it louder still and they thought I was highon drugs. I said, “It’s an American film, it has to be loud.”

At 11 a.m. they are to have a press screening and I am nervous aboutthat. I haven’t seen the film straight through. Tonight will be thefirst screening of “Kicked” the world has ever seen.

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